Because we don’t see it often, we forget the scalp is actually skin. And just like the skin on our faces, hands, and bodies, the skin on our scalp needs proper treatment.

When you don’t practice proper scalp care, your scalp can accumulate oil, dead skin, or product residue near the hair follicles. If your hair follicles are blocked in any way, that will impact your hair’s growth. Hair grown from clogged hair follicles is often thinner and more prone to breaking.

If, on the other hand, you practice good scalp treatment, your hair will grow strong and healthy.

5 Ways to Create a Healthy Scalp

Fortunately, there are many ways to practice good scalp care and thus improve the health and vibrancy of your hair. Here are five ways to improve your scalp’s health.

#1: Eat a Balanced Diet

Diet has a significant impact on scalp health. Just like the skin on your body, your scalp needs nutrients to thrive. By eating a balanced diet, full of healthy foods, you give your scalp the nurturing it needs.

Protein is important for healthy hair. Pick protein sources that contain additional nutrients, like zinc, iron, and Vitamin B, for the best benefits to your scalp. Examples of good protein sources for a healthy scalp include eggs, salmon, beans, and chicken.

You also need vitamins for a healthy scalp and hair. Vitamins A and C are particularly important for scalp health. You can get your daily dose of these nutrients by eating foods like blueberries, carrots, peppers, and dark, leafy vegetables. If you struggle getting enough nutrients in through your diet alone, daily multivitamins help.

However, it’s always best for your scalp's health to try to get as many nutrients as possible from the food you eat.

#2: Gently Exfoliate Your Scalp Once a Week

If you don’t keep your scalp clean, it can become overloaded with oil, dust, dead skin, and more. This buildup can impact your hair growth.

By gently exfoliating your scalp once a week, you can help clear out the buildup and give your hair support to grow.

Look for an exfoliating product that has a small, fine texture, like an exfoliating face wash. Rub it gently across your scalp using your fingers, then rinse off. Use care when exfoliating your scalp, just as you would when exfoliating your face. You don’t want to rub to aggressively and risk injuring your scalp.

Protect your scalp health by wearing a hat in the sun.

#3: Keep Your Scalp Moisturized

Like the skin of your face, your scalp can get too dry. Typically, dry scalp occurs from overusing products that strip your hair’s natural oils. These oils keep your scalp nice and moisturized. If you wash your hair too often or with shampoos that are too harsh, you can damage your hair and scalp. There is such a thing as over-washing your hair.

To make sure you’re not doing more harm to your hair than good, use a gentle shampoo with safe ingredients. Different hair textures require different amounts of washing. For instance, some thicker, curlier hair can go for days between washes, while finer hair might get oily quicker. If your hair starts getting brittle or feeling like straw, consider changing your products and/or your washing routine.

#4: Protect Your Scalp From the Sun

Your scalp is made of skin, just like the rest of your body. And just like the rest of your body, that skin is sensitive and prone to damage from the sun. If you don’t take care to protect your scalp, you can experience painful burns which, among other consequences, can damage the scalp and inhibit hair growth.

Protect your scalp from the sun. Wear a hat or a scarf if you will be out in the sun for a long time. Depending on your hair’s thickness, you may also want to apply a safe sunscreen to your scalp.

#5: Use a Proven Scalp Treatment

Just like the skin on the rest of your body, the skin on your scalp changes as you age. By using a safe and efficient scalp treatment, you can reverse the aging process and renew the skin on your scalp, leading to hair growth.

Not all scalp treatments are created equal: you want to invest in a tested product to ensure the best results for your hair. Mereltä’s formula is dermatologist-tested proven to restore hair and scalp health, making it a safe choice.

Scalp Care: Final Thoughts

Scalp care is an essential part of hair care. If you want strong, healthy hair, you need to have a strong, healthy scalp.

Your scalp is made of skin just like the rest of your body. The skin requires proper consistent care. By nourishing your scalp with nutrient-dense food and safe products, as well as keeping it protected from sun damage, you can improve your scalp’s health and, consequently, improve the health of your hair, too.